Federal officials issued a health alert on Friday, advising consumers to stay away from pure caffeine products which can be deadly.
The warning follows the death of a teenager in Ohio. The Food and Drug Administration said in a statement the agency is particularly worried about caffeine powder sold in bulk.
"These products are essentially 100 percent caffeine," the statement said. "A single teaspoon of pure caffeine is roughly equivalent to the amount in 25 cups of coffee."
Caffeine powder can easily cause an overdose, and parents should be on the lookout to keep it away from children An overdose can cause rapid or dangerously erratic heartbeat, seizures and death.
The Center for Science in the Public Interest welcomed the alert but said the FDA should also warn the public about caffeine-laced energy drinks, which have been associated with dozens of deaths.
"The overuse and misuse of caffeine in the food supply is creating a Wild West marketplace, and it's about time the sheriff noticed and did something," the center said in a statement.
The FDA advised consumers who experience any adverse symptoms to seek help from their health care provider and also to alert the agency by calling 240-402-2405
or by emailing
-- Lynne Terry